Torque converter

Abstract

In a torque convertor including a pump impeller, a turbine runner and a stator, an outer regulation surface facing inwards in a radial direction is provided at a turbine shell on an inward side in the radial direction from a turbine blade, an inner regulation surface that approaches and faces the outer regulation surface from inside in the radial direction is provided at a stator hub, and at least one of the outer regulation surface and the inner regulation surface is formed into a ring shape. Accordingly, movement of the stator along the radial direction at a time of transportation is inhibited and it is made unnecessary to form flange portions at core rings of the pump impeller and the turbine runner.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A torque converter comprising:
 a pump impeller in which a plurality of pump blades are provided on an inner surface of a pump shell having an inner peripheral portion fixedly provided at a pump hub; 
 a turbine runner in which a plurality of turbine blades are provided on an inner surface of a turbine shell having an inner peripheral portion fixedly provided at a turbine hub that is disposed at a space in an axial direction from the pump hub; and 
 a stator in which a plurality of stator blades are provided at an outer periphery of a stator hub and thrust bearings are respectively interposed between the pump hub and the stator hub and between the turbine hub and the stator hub, 
 wherein an outer regulation surface facing inwards in a radial direction is provided at the turbine shell on an inward side in the radial direction from the turbine blade, 
 an inner regulation surface that approaches and faces the outer regulation surface from inside in the radial direction is provided at the stator hub, and 
 at least one of the outer regulation surface and the inner regulation surface is formed into a ring shape, 
 wherein a ring-shaped bending portion that bulges toward the stator side is provided at the turbine shell radially inwardly of the turbine blade, and a portion of the turbine shell that is disposed radially inwardly of the bending portion is fixed to the turbine hub with a plurality of pins spaced in a peripheral direction, and 
 wherein a retainer is fixed to the turbine shell, the retainer being laid on the bending portion from the stator side while having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the bending portion so as to form the outer regulation surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The torque converter according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the retainer is fixed by the pins to the turbine hub together with the turbine shell.